MANAGEMENT OF MOORS 49 



prior Acts for the protection, first of 

 certain sea birds, then of certain wild 

 birds, and afterwards of certain wild fowl 

 which have a marketable or commercial 

 value. By the Act of 1880 it is illegal to 

 kill any bird during the breeding season 

 from 1st March to 1st August, with 

 certain exceptions in favour of the owner 

 or occupier of land. The protection thus 

 extended by law to a large number of 

 wild birds, most of them with predaceous 

 or theftuous instinct, is no doubt prompted 

 by the desirability of preserving for 

 scientific reasons certain species from 

 extirpation, or the humanitarian motive 

 of shielding them from wanton cruelty. 

 But it may be questioned whether the 

 protected existence of some of these 

 animals is required, when their own 

 defensive powers and fecundity are con- 

 sidered. Agriculturists and sportsmen 

 alike protest that protection of many 

 members on the list is a mistake, and 

 that great damage to valuable crops as 

 well as to edible animals results. Eggs 



